Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel (Doubleday; 2008)

## From Publishers Weekly In this latest effort to popularize the sciences, City University of New York professor and media star Kaku (\_Hyperspace\_) ponders topics that many people regard as impossible, ranging from psychokinesis and telepathy to time travel and teleportation. His Class I impossibilities include force fields, telepathy and antiuniverses, which don't violate the known laws of science and may become realities in the next century. Those in Class II await realization farther in the future and include faster-than-light travel and discovery of parallel universes. Kaku discusses only perpetual motion machines and precognition in Class III, things that aren't possible according to our current understanding of science. He explains how what many consider to be flights of fancy are being made tangible by recent scientific discoveries ranging from rudimentary advances in teleportation to the creation of small quantities of antimatter and transmissions faster than the speed of light. Science and science fiction buffs can easily follow Kaku's explanations as he shows that in the wonderful worlds of science, impossible things are happening every day. __(Mar. 11)__ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ## From Kaku (\_Parallel Worlds\_, __Beyond Einstein__, __Hyperspace__) introduces complex theories of physics to general readers. As \_The Economist __notes, Kaku "makes a good stab at explaining difficult physics. But his grasp of his subject is perhaps trumped by his knowledge of science fiction." While Kaku writes in language designed to captivate nonscience readers, it's his references to pop culture__Star Trek \_to __Terminator 3__that clarify his fringe physics. (Those wishing to explore the topic further can refer to Kaku's detailed footnotes.) To critics' delight, Kaku also investigates the moral issues of futuristic technology that SF does so well and asks provoking questions about the fate of humankind. The only complaints? Kaku omits a few obvious SF parallels, and, more seriously, readers who don't enjoy that genre may find less of interest here. __Copyright 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.__ Cover......Page 1 Title page......Page 7 Copyright page......Page 8 Contents......Page 11 Preface......Page 13 The "Impossible" Is Relative......Page 15 Studying the Impossible......Page 18 Predicting the Future......Page 20 Acknowledgments......Page 23 Part I: Class I Impossibilities [1]......Page 25 1 Force Fields [3]......Page 27 Michael Faraday......Page 28 The Four Forces......Page 30 Plasma Windows......Page 32 Magnetic Levitation......Page 35 2 Invisibility [16]......Page 40 Invisibility Throughout History......Page 41 Maxwell's Equations and the Secret of Light......Page 42 Metamaterials and Invisibility......Page 45 Metamaterials for Visible Light......Page 48 Invisibility via Plasmonics......Page 50 The Future of Metamaterials......Page 51 Invisibility and Nanotechnology......Page 53 Holograms and Invisibility......Page 55 Invisibility via the Fourth Dimension......Page 57 3 Phasers and Death Stars [34]......Page 58 Beam Weapons through History......Page 59 The Quantum Revolution......Page 60 Masers and Lasers......Page 62 Types of Lasers and Fusion......Page 63 Lasers and Ray Guns?......Page 65 Inertial Confinement for Fusion......Page 67 Magnetic Confinement for Fusion......Page 69 Nuclear-Fired X-Ray Lasers......Page 71 The Physics of a Death Star......Page 73 Gamma Ray Bursters......Page 74 4 Teleportation [53]......Page 77 Teleportation and Science Fiction......Page 78 Teleportation and the Quantum Theory......Page 80 The EPR Experiment......Page 84 Quantum Teleportation......Page 86 Teleportation Without Entanglement......Page 88 Quantum Computers......Page 90 5 Telepathy [70]......Page 94 Psychical Research......Page 97 Telepathy and Star Gate......Page 98 Brain Scans......Page 100 MRI Lie Detectors......Page 101 Universal Translator......Page 104 Handheld MRI Scanners......Page 106 The Brain As a Neural Network......Page 107 Projecting Your Thoughts......Page 108 Mapping the Brain......Page 110 6 Psychokinesis [88]......Page 112 Psychokinesis and the Real World......Page 114 Psychokinesis and Science......Page 115 Psychokinesis and the Brain......Page 118 Nanobots......Page 122 7 Robots [103]......Page 127 The History of Artificial Intelligence......Page 128 The Top-Down Approach......Page 134 The Bottom-Up Approach......Page 140 Emotional Robots?......Page 142 Are They Conscious?......Page 145 Could Robots Be Dangerous?......Page 146 8 Extraterrestrials and UFOs [126]......Page 150 The Scientific Search for Life......Page 152 Listening to ET......Page 154 Where Are They?......Page 157 The Search for Earth-Like Planets......Page 160 What Do They Look Like?......Page 164 Monsters and the Scale Law......Page 166 The Physics of Advanced Civilizations......Page 169 UFOs......Page 171 9 Starships [154]......Page 178 Catastrophes to Come......Page 179 Ion and Plasma Engines......Page 181 Solar Sails......Page 182 Ramjet Fusion......Page 183 Nuclear Electric Rocket......Page 185 Nuclear Pulsed Rockets......Page 187 Specific Impulse and Engine Efficiency......Page 188 Space Elevators......Page 189 The Slingshot Effect......Page 193 Rail Guns to the Heavens......Page 194 The Dangers of Space Travel......Page 196 Suspended Animation......Page 197 Nanoships......Page 199 10 Antimatter and Anti-universes [179]......Page 203 Producing Anti-Atoms and Anti-Chemistry......Page 204 An Antimatter Rocket......Page 206 Naturally Occurring Antimatter......Page 207 Founder of Antimatter......Page 210 Dirac and Newton......Page 213 Antigravity and Anti-Universes......Page 214 Part II: Class II Impossibilities [195]......Page 219 11 Faster Than Light [197]......Page 221 Einstein the Failure......Page 222 Einstein and Relativity......Page 223 Loopholes in Einstein's Theory......Page 225 The Alcubierre Drive and Negative Energy......Page 228 Wormholes and Black Holes......Page 232 Planck Energy and Particle Accelerators......Page 236 12 Time Travel [216]......Page 240 Changing the Past......Page 241 Time Travel: Physicists' Playground......Page 244 Paradoxes and Time Conundrums......Page 248 13 Parallel Universes [229]......Page 253 Hyperspace......Page 254 String Theory......Page 258 The Multiverse......Page 262 Quantum Theory......Page 265 Quantum Universes......Page 269 Contact Between Universes?......Page 272 A Baby Universe in the Laboratory?......Page 274 The Evolution of Universes?......Page 276 Part III: Class III Impossibilities [255]......Page 279 14 Perpetual Motion Machines [257]......Page 281 History Viewed through Energy......Page 283 Perpetual Motion Machines through History......Page 284 Hoaxes and Frauds......Page 285 Ludwig Boltzmann and Entropy......Page 288 Total Entropy Always Increases......Page 289 The Three Laws and Symmetries......Page 291 Energy from the Vacuum?......Page 293 15 Precognition [272]......Page 296 Can We See the Future?......Page 299 Backward in Time......Page 300 Tachyons from the Future......Page 304 Epilogue: The Future of the Impossible [284]......Page 308 Detecting the Pre-Big Bang Era......Page 311 The End of the Universe......Page 315 A Theory of Everything?......Page 318 Criticisms of String Theory......Page 320 Is String Theory Untestable?......Page 321 Is Physics Incomplete?......Page 323 3 Phasers and Death Stars......Page 329 4 Teleportation......Page 330 5 Telepathy......Page 332 7 Robots......Page 334 9 Starships......Page 336 13 Parallel Universes......Page 337 14 Perpetual Motion Machines......Page 338 Epilogue: The Future of the Impossible......Page 339 Bibliography [317]......Page 341 B......Page 343 D......Page 344 E......Page 345 G......Page 346 K......Page 347 M......Page 348 P......Page 349 R......Page 350 S......Page 351 T......Page 352 Y......Page 353 Science Cover 1 Title page 7 Copyright page 8 Contents 11 Preface 13 The "Impossible" Is Relative 15 Studying the Impossible 18 Predicting the Future 20 Acknowledgments 23 Part I: Class I Impossibilities [1] 25 1 Force Fields [3] 27 Michael Faraday 28 The Four Forces 30 Plasma Windows 32 Magnetic Levitation 35 2 Invisibility [16] 40 Invisibility Throughout History 41 Maxwell's Equations and the Secret of Light 42 Metamaterials and Invisibility 45 Metamaterials for Visible Light 48 Invisibility via Plasmonics 50 The Future of Metamaterials 51 Invisibility and Nanotechnology 53 Holograms and Invisibility 55 Invisibility via the Fourth Dimension 57 3 Phasers and Death Stars [34] 58 Beam Weapons through History 59 The Quantum Revolution 60 Masers and Lasers 62 Types of Lasers and Fusion 63 Lasers and Ray Guns? 65 Energy for a Death Star 67 Inertial Confinement for Fusion 67 Magnetic Confinement for Fusion 69 Nuclear-Fired X-Ray Lasers 71 The Physics of a Death Star 73 Gamma Ray Bursters 74 4 Teleportation [53] 77 Teleportation and Science Fiction 78 Teleportation and the Quantum Theory 80 The EPR Experiment 84 Quantum Teleportation 86 Teleportation Without Entanglement 88 Quantum Computers 90 5 Telepathy [70] 94 Psychical Research 97 Telepathy and Star Gate 98 Brain Scans 100 MRI Lie Detectors 101 Universal Translator 104 Handheld MRI Scanners 106 The Brain As a Neural Network 107 Projecting Your Thoughts 108 Mapping the Brain 110 6 Psychokinesis [88] 112 Psychokinesis and the Real World 114 Psychokinesis and Science 115 Psychokinesis and the Brain 118 Nanobots 122 7 Robots [103] 127 The History of Artificial Intelligence 128 The Top-Down Approach 134 The Bottom-Up Approach 140 Emotional Robots? 142 Are They Conscious? 145 Could Robots Be Dangerous? 146 8 Extraterrestrials and UFOs [126] 150 The Scientific Search for Life 152 Listening to ET 154 Where Are They? 157 The Search for Earth-Like Planets 160 What Do They Look Like? 164 Monsters and the Scale Law 166 The Physics of Advanced Civilizations 169 UFOs 171 9 Starships [154] 178 Catastrophes to Come 179 Ion and Plasma Engines 181 Solar Sails 182 Ramjet Fusion 183 Nuclear Electric Rocket 185 Nuclear Pulsed Rockets 187 Specific Impulse and Engine Efficiency 188 Space Elevators 189 The Slingshot Effect 193 Rail Guns to the Heavens 194 The Dangers of Space Travel 196 Suspended Animation 197 Nanoships 199 10 Antimatter and Anti-universes [179] 203 Producing Anti-Atoms and Anti-Chemistry 204 An Antimatter Rocket 206 Naturally Occurring Antimatter 207 Founder of Antimatter 210 Dirac and Newton 213 Antigravity and Anti-Universes 214 Part II: Class II Impossibilities [195] 219 11 Faster Than Light [197] 221 Einstein the Failure 222 Einstein and Relativity 223 Loopholes in Einstein's Theory 225 The Alcubierre Drive and Negative Energy 228 Wormholes and Black Holes 232 Planck Energy and Particle Accelerators 236 12 Time Travel [216] 240 Changing the Past 241 Time Travel: Physicists' Playground 244 Paradoxes and Time Conundrums 248 13 Parallel Universes [229] 253 Hyperspace 254 String Theory 258 The Multiverse 262 Quantum Theory 265 Quantum Universes 269 Contact Between Universes? 272 A Baby Universe in the Laboratory? 274 The Evolution of Universes? 276 Part III: Class III Impossibilities [255] 279 14 Perpetual Motion Machines [257] 281 History Viewed through Energy 283 Perpetual Motion Machines through History 284 Hoaxes and Frauds 285 Ludwig Boltzmann and Entropy 288 Total Entropy Always Increases 289 The Three Laws and Symmetries 291 Energy from the Vacuum? 293 15 Precognition [272] 296 Can We See the Future? 299 Backward in Time 300 Tachyons from the Future 304 Epilogue: The Future of the Impossible [284] 308 Detecting the Pre-Big Bang Era 311 The End of the Universe 315 A Theory of Everything? 318 Criticisms of String Theory 320 Is String Theory Untestable? 321 Is Physics Incomplete? 323 Notes [305] 329 Preface 329 Part I: Class I Impossibilities 329 2 Invisibility 329 3 Phasers and Death Stars 329 4 Teleportation 330 5 Telepathy 332 6 Psychokinesis 334 7 Robots 334 8 Extraterrestrials and UFOs 336 9 Starships 336 10 Antimatter and Anti-universes 337 Part II: Class II Impossibilities 337 11 Faster Than Light 337 12 Time Travel 337 13 Parallel Universes 337 Part III: Class III Impossibilities 338 14 Perpetual Motion Machines 338 Epilogue: The Future of the Impossible 339 Bibliography [317] 341 Index [319] 343 A 343 B 343 C 344 D 344 E 345 F 346 G 346 H 347 I 347 J 347 K 347 L 348 M 348 N 349 O 349 P 349 Q 350 R 350 S 351 T 352 U 353 V 353 W 353 Y 353 science;,physics;,scifi;,cinema;,television science,physics,scifi,cinema,television A fascinating exploration of the science of the impossible—from death rays and force fields to invisibility cloaks—revealing to what extent such technologies might be achievable decades or millennia into the future. One hundred years ago, scientists would have said that lasers, televisions, and the atomic bomb were beyond the realm of physical possibility. In Physics of the Impossible, the renowned physicist Michio Kaku explores to what extent the technologies and devices of science fiction that are deemed equally impossible today might well become commonplace in the future. From teleportation to telekinesis, Kaku uses the world of science fiction to explore the fundamentals—and the limits—of the laws of physics as we know them today. He ranks the impossible technologies by categories—Class I, II, and III, depending on when they might be achieved, within the next century, millennia, or perhaps never. In a compelling and thought-provoking narrative, he explains: - How the science of optics and electromagnetism may one day enable us to bend light around an object, like a stream flowing around a boulder, making the object invisible to observers “downstream” - How ramjet rockets, laser sails, antimatter engines, and nanorockets may one day take us to the nearby stars - How telepathy and psychokinesis, once considered pseudoscience, may one day be possible using advances in MRI, computers, superconductivity, and nanotechnology - Why a time machine is apparently consistent with the known laws of quantum physics, although it would take an unbelievably advanced civilization to actually build one Kaku uses his discussion of each technology as a jumping-off point to explain the science behind it. An extraordinary scientific adventure, Physics of the Impossible takes readers on an unforgettable, mesmerizing journey into the world of science that both enlightens and entertains. [(source)][1] [1]: http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Impossible-Scientific-Exploration-Teleportation/dp/0385520697/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books A fascinating exploration of the science of the impossible—from death rays and force fields to invisibility cloaks—revealing to what extent such technologies might be achievable decades or millennia into the future. One hundred years ago, scientists would have said that lasers, televisions, and the atomic bomb were beyond the realm of physical possibility. In Physics of the Impossible , the renowned physicist Michio Kaku explores to what extent the technologies and devices of science fiction that are deemed equally impossible today might well become commonplace in the future. From teleportation to telekinesis, Kaku uses the world of science fiction to explore the fundamentals—and the limits—of the laws of physics as we know them today. He ranks the impossible technologies by categories—Class I, II, and III, depending on when they might be achieved, within the next century, millennia, or perhaps never. In a compelling and thought-provoking narrative, he explains: В· How the science of optics and electromagnetism may one day enable us to bend light around an object, like a stream flowing around a boulder, making the object invisible to observers “downstream” В· How ramjet rockets, laser sails, antimatter engines, and nanorockets may one day take us to the nearby stars В· How telepathy and psychokinesis, once considered pseudoscience, may one day be possible using advances in MRI, computers, superconductivity, and nanotechnology В· Why a time machine is apparently consistent with the known laws of quantum physics, although it would take an unbelievably advanced civilization to actually build one Kaku uses his discussion of each technology as a jumping-off point to explain the science behind it. An extraordinary scientific adventure, Physics of the Impossible takes readers on an unforgettable, mesmerizing journey into the world of science that both enlightens and entertains. One Hundred Years Ago, Scientists Would Have Said That Lasers, Televisions, And The Atomic Bomb Were Beyond The Realm Of Physical Possibility. Here, Physicist Michio Kaku Explores To What Extent The Technologies And Devices Of Science Fiction That Are Deemed Equally Impossible Today Might Well Become Commonplace In The Future. From Teleportation To Telekinesis, Kaku Uses The World Of Science Fiction To Explore The Fundamentals--and The Limits--of The Laws Of Physics As We Know Them Today. He Ranks The Impossible Technologies By Categories--class I, Ii, And Iii--depending On When They Might Be Achieved, Within The Next Century, Millennia, Or Perhaps Never. He Uses His Discussion Of Each Technology As A Jumping-off Point To Explain The Science Behind It.--from Publisher Description. Force Fields -- Invisibility -- Phasers And Death Stars -- Teleportation -- Telepathy -- Psychokinesis -- Robots -- Extraterrestrials And Ufos -- Starships -- Antimatter And Anti-universes -- Faster Than Light -- Time Travel -- Parallel Universes -- Perpetual Motion Machines -- Precognition -- Epilogue: The Future Of The Impossible. Michio Kaku. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [317]-318) And Index. NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Inspired by the fantastic worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Back to the Future, the renowned theoretical physicist and national bestselling author of The God Equation takes an informed, serious, and often surprising look at what our current understanding of the universe's physical laws may permit in the near and distant future. Teleportation, time machines, force fields, and interstellar space ships—the stuff of science fiction or potentially attainable future technologies? Entertaining, informative, and imaginative, Physics of the Impossible probes the very limits of human ingenuity and scientific possibility. Teleportation, time machines, force fields, and interstellar space ships—the stuff of science fiction or potentially attainable future technologies? Inspired by the fantastic worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Back to the Future, renowned theoretical physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku takes an informed, serious, and often surprising look at what our current understanding of the universe's physical laws may permit in the near and distant future.Entertaining, informative, and imaginative, Physics of the Impossible probes the very limits of human ingenuity and scientific possibility. Looks at the scientific principles behind the technology of the future, examining the theoretical basis, as well as limitations, of the laws of physics to discuss how seemingly impossible devices could become commonplace in the future.